August 24, 2008

Still redoing the studio

Brenda is hosting a tour of "Where Blogger's Create" today and since I have some studio pictures here, I thought I'd join in. For a list of other bloggers who are showing their studios today, go HERE.

And please, remember that all comments are entered into my August Giveaway, the 50's housewife kit- jewels and a frilly vintage apron!

I'm still plugging away on the studio redo. It is taking so long because I stop and make things as I go and spend too much time on fixing up the storage areas. Like this little hutch, that I am storing glitter supplies in. (it still needs glass knobs)

Here is the before, sitting outside my studio's back door.

1-I primed it with Zinzer Bullseye spray, bonding primer, then a spray coat of aqua.

2- Let it dry, then sanded it quite a bit with a palm sander.

3- Topped it with a black walnut stain/poly mix and wiped it down.

4- As a finishing touch, I dipped the brush back into the stain mix and flicked it over the hutch for speckles, then dabbed the more pronounced ones a bit with a rag.

So, things like that get me side tracked, and instead of just making the room cleaned up and functional, I do projects.

Like this one. I bought an unfinished pine folding screen at a garage sale for $10 last weekend and decided to make a mini studio within my studio for Sugarwings with this as walls.

The side facing out is covered with my floral papers and trimmed in white paint top coated the same way I did the little hutch. (which I had bought to use in Sugarwing's studio, but it ended up in mine!)

On the fairy grand baby's side of the screen, I painted the trim in pink and blue and white polka dots with chalk board paint in 4 of the areas, and some Care Bear wallpaper in the others.

Then, perfect timing- (but is there ever BAD timing for a lovely gift???)

I had admired the apron she had posted on her blog, and look- here is one for Sugarwings!

Not only did she send the apron that I admired, she made up scented play dough, this sweet tag, and this cute little collaged box too.

As well as TONS of other surprises. The birdies are from her too, I added one to the top of the screen, by just looping it's wire around the hole in the picket.

All of her packages in the box were wrapped so cutely, and she used old greeting cards to make up tags for each package, then included the play dough recipe on one too.

That box of goodness was jammed packed full of fun. I'd also admired one of these ceramic hands that she showed on her blog, and Robin sent one of those too. I was sad to see it had broken into a million pieces in the bottom of the box.

That hand was definately worth putting some time into fixing, so I glued it all back together, then decoupaged it with pages from an old French book to cover the cracks and gaps that were stuffed with tissue paper.

Robin lives in the same city where my husband and I keep an apartment out East, so I will keep this hand on my desk, as a friendly wave from a neighbor.

I'm embarrassed to say that Robin's box was part of a swap we did. She had bought a hat covered in tiny pink flowers and I offered to trade a handful of her pink ones for a mix of a bunch of my other colors, so she'd have a variety to work with.

And because the pink ones she had were so perfectly pink!

And yes, she sent the pink flowers, I have them tied to the storage box. And what did I send to her?

Just a handful of flowers. And I haven't even shown you all of what she sent to me!!! Like I said, that box was jammed full of goodies!

Thanks so much, Robin!

And thanks also to Carol. She sent in her swap boxes for the Pre-Bella Get Acquainted Swap that I am hosting, and included this giftie for me.

That K is going onto my chandelier filled with collected Ks that hangs right over my computer.

I didn't peek into her swap boxes, they are just too darling to open. I am afraid my photo of them wasn't as good as it should be, but the one on her blog is. She owns one of those Canon Rebel cameras I whine about all the time.

You should look at her photo, she is a talented stylist and every picture she takes is a beauty.

I forgot to mention that the flowered china in this picture is a gift from Beth. She thinks of me when she is at an auction and is always bringing me pretties she gets there.

I tried re-taking this photo (same as the last post) in daylight, but unless I have direct light, my photos are never good.

That is why every photo I take of something for Etsy is in front of the French doors in the light. I try to use different papers and table clothes as backgrounds, but it is always the same location, since it has the best light in the room.

This Witch's Boot might be my only Halloween offering, besides black and orange millinery. I won't have time to do much for Halloween, I am going to skip straight to filling up my 10 x 10 booth at Silver Bella for Christmas and making things for Lollyshops.

Comments

This is my first visit, but I am bookmarking your blog, I'll be back after the tour to see more. I am blown away by your little aqua hutch, it is fantastic; you are a very talented lady! Thanks for the tour.

Everything is so colorful and awe-inspiring! I was just ooohing and aaahing my way through every single photo. And done so well, no matter what you say! Sugarwings must just love to come see you and have her own space to be creative in. Maybe you should do an article (if you haven't already) on creating spaces for little ones to create! Love that hutch, and everything else for that matter. Thank you so much for participating!
Brenda

tee hee on the photo ops Karla:) almost every picture i ever post on my blog or etsy is taken on my porch...that has the best lighting i can find and usually all of my backrounds are the same...LOL...i have been wanting to accumulate a box of props to keep out there so all of my pics don't look the same...it is on my to do list with about a million other things...your glitter hutch is darling...all of my glitter resides in an old nasty shoe box...pathetic...your boot is really cute, love that idea...your goodies from Robin are SO delightful...i knew she was going to send that apron for Sugarwings...isn't it just darling?...i want to see a pic of her wearing it soon...love your gifts from Carol too, i went over to visit her and everything you said is true, her blog is so very pretty...Beth is a good friend to you, the flowered china is lovely:) GEEZ!!! is this a comment or a mini blog post...i think i am done now...LOL...

I love your studio, I love the little hutch, and the way you transformed it. It is too cute. Your goodies are wonderful.You did great on salvaging the hand. You have lots of patience evidently. You have a wonderful week, Karla.
Jean in virginia

That hutch is sooo cute! My first thought was it was cute for Sugarwings..but I think you deserve it for your glitter stash....especially since your transformed a little corner just for her! How adorable is that? Glad you liked all the goodies...and I'm so bummed about the hand! But you did a fabulous job in the recovery! Everyone is right...your pictures are beautiful.....even if you don't have a rebel! ;>

Wow!!!!!! What an adorable post. The hutch and the room screen...absolutely one of the cutest things I think I have seen. Great job on your projects. I bet your mind works a 100 miles an hour. Do you make lists for yourself to remember everything? I love all the work in progress!
Have a lovely day!
Debbie

WOW Karla, you hit the jackpot with goodness! What wonderful gifts you received. Loved them all. Loved that "K" you're hanging from your chandelier and what a clever way to fix the hand. Love your halloween witches boot! Have a great day,

I have no idea how I found your blog, oh my, what a gift!!! I love everything. I am so glad that I dont need alot of sleep, because I will be going through all of your archives tonight. You are very talented. Tammy

love, love, love your tape dispenser! i'm a little embarrassed to go through all your beautiful photos and the thing my eyes and mind kept going back to was your tape! of course, it's all fun and beautiful but today i covet your tape.

Oh my such wonderful things to look at and read about! I'm so glad you reconstructed the hand...I thought it came that way before I read it and I thought "I love that!" What a sweet friend you have! I am sooo enjoying looking at all your swap gifts!
Kim

I am always amazed at how creative people are. Smart thinking on the hand. I would never have thought to do what you did. I am going to tuck that smart idea away. You never know when it might come in handy...pun intended. LOL! Great job on your studio. I really like your blog and if you don't mind I will be back for another look see from time to time.